Lambert Smith Hampton Greater Manchester Office Market Report 2010

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    Greater

    ManchesterOffice Market

    Drivers for demand

    Lambert Smith Hampton Issue One / 2010

    Inside this edition: Manchester: the UKs second city? MediaCityUK: is it sustainable in todays economic climate? Greater Manchester office market overview Public display of affection The emergence of a new business district www.lsh.co.uk

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / Manchester: the UKs second city

    Having recently witnessed one of

    the largest and most significant

    development booms on record,

    it would appear that Manchester

    City Centres fortunes have been

    transformed and its future as

    the UKs second cityis well

    and truly secured.

    Adorning the citys skyline is an explosion of

    new architectural structures, from the slick

    and sophisticated Spinningfields to the

    perfectly polished Piccadilly. These large-scale

    mixed-use developments have injected the city

    with an enviable supply of grade A office

    space on a scale unlike anything ever seenbefore outside of London. In doing so,

    Manchester has been thrust onto national and

    global shortlists for corporate requirements,

    providing a major catalyst for a vibrant and

    thriving economy.

    Chart topping

    With an average annual take-up of just under

    one million sq ft*, Manchester has grown

    significantly more than any of the other

    big six cities in the UK outside of London,

    topping the charts for the past five years

    (see Chart 1).

    Fuelling this demand has been the proactive

    nature of both the City Council and inward

    investment company MIDAS, which have

    worked tirelessly to promote Manchester

    as a leading European business destination.

    The growth of the regions establishedtransport hubs, in particular Manchester

    International Airport and Manchester

    Piccadilly, has also created a gateway to a

    much wider occupier audience. The former

    providing direct flights to over 190

    destinations, including 16 in the UK, and the

    latter providing a high-speed rail service that

    reaches London in a little over two hours.

    The result? A significant rise in inward

    investment from major public and private

    sector occupiers whose business presence in

    the City Centre is firmly established on long-

    term leases.

    Manchester: the UKs second city

    * Calculated over a 10-year period

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / Manchester: the UKs second city

    Lambert Smith Hampton / 3

    Risk and return

    Understandably, Manchesters predominance

    as the largest financial and professional

    services centre outside of London has left it

    exposed to the downturn and demand has

    been somewhat subdued as a consequence.

    Final year take-up is expected to be down

    almost 25 percent on the 10-year average.

    Despite this rather dour prediction, the extent

    of which Manchesters annual take-up has

    deviated from the 10-year average has been

    marginal, indicating a comparatively stable

    level of occupational demand compared to

    the other big six (see Chart 2).

    Also vying for the prestigious accolade ofsecond city status is Birmingham. While it is

    possible to draw similarities between the two,

    with both having benefited from major

    lettings to their respective city councils this

    year, Manchester unmistakably stands out

    from the crowd.

    The commercial and administrative capital of

    the north west is poised to record significantly

    more activity during 2009 than its Midlands

    counterpart (see Chart 3). No mean feat when

    you consider the turmoil experienced in the

    financial markets over the past year.

    The futures bright

    Once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution,

    Manchester has shed its traditional past to

    become one of the top places in the UK to

    relocate a business. The main challenge going

    forward will be to attract inward investment,

    both domestically and internationally, in order

    to maintain its unofficial title as the UKs

    second city.

    Major investment programmes including the

    expansion of the citys two major universities,

    the redevelopment of Victoria Station, and the

    transformation of the iconic Metrolink tram

    system are already underway. Projects such

    as these will continue to change the face of

    Manchester City Centre beyond recognition.

    David Thwaites, Office Agency

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 8008Email: [email protected]

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    GlasgowLeedsBirminghamBristolEdinburghManchester

    000 sq ft

    Chart 1

    Source: LSH Research

    Big six average annual take-up

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    Chart 2

    Source: LSH Research

    Big six take-up v 10-year average

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    Chart 3

    Source: LSH Research

    Big six take-up 2000-2009

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / MediaCityUK: is it sustainable in todays economic climate?

    4 / Lambert Smith Hampton

    The BBCs relocation to MediaCityUK

    in Salford Quays has polarised

    opinion. Critics have slammed

    it as an unnecessary waste of

    license payers money, while

    supporters believe it could be a

    catalyst for economic growth.

    As the first of the BBCs three buildings

    is handed over and an estimated 1,500

    employees prepare to relocate from London,

    with a further 800 from Manchester City

    Centre, what does the future hold for

    MediaCityUK?

    In an economic climate which has seen most

    new schemes delayed or even abandoned due

    to funding and viability issues, the sheer

    fortitude of developer, Peel Holdings, has

    seen construction continue apace.

    So much so that Phase One is still on target

    for delivery in 2011. The first phase of

    development incorporates 700,000 sq ft of

    office space, a 250,000 sq ft state-of-the-art

    studio block, 80,000 sq ft of retail and leisure

    accommodation, 378 apartments and a 218-

    bed hotel. In addition, a five acre public realm

    area will be created, including a piazza

    capable of holding upwards of 5,000 people.

    Thedevelopment

    itself is on a scaleunlike anythingwitnessed in

    recent years.

    Covering 36 acres of former dockland at

    Salford Quays and occupying a prominent

    waterfront position, Phase One represents

    only one-fifth of the total land available for

    redevelopment.

    According to Peel, its aim is to bring together

    a variety of hi-tech organisations, independent

    producers, facilities providers and broadcastersalongside the BBC to create the UKs first purpose-

    built media city. However, with office take-up

    for the Quays at a record low and some media-

    related occupiers questioning the need to

    relocate from the City Centre of Manchester

    to this new media hub, it is anticipated that

    MediaCityUK will take longer than originally

    planned to extend to the full 200 acres.

    Encouragingly, the University of Salford has

    recently signed an agreement to become the

    developments second anchor tenant

    alongside the BBC. The University looks set to

    lease 100,000 sq ft over four floors to create a

    new higher education centre a resounding

    affirmation of its belief in the development in

    its own right and not just as a media hub.

    While it is difficult to predict what level of

    activity MediaCityUK will see once Phase One

    is fully delivered and the market has improved

    somewhat, its success will ultimately

    determine the progress of any furtherexpansion. The development will clearly entice

    a wide range of occupiers and, upon the

    BBCs arrival, will have a real impact on the

    local community and regional economy.

    MediaCityUK should not be viewed in

    isolation but as part of an outstanding piece

    of regeneration. When pictured alongside the

    award-winning Lowry Hotel, the Imperial War

    Museum and the extensive residential

    development, MediaCityUK is the catalyst for

    this part of Manchester to become a success.

    Adam Jackson, Office Agency

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7065

    Email: [email protected]

    MediaCityUK:is it sustainable in todays

    economic climate?

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    Take-up will reach approximately

    700,000 sq ft in 2009, down 30 percent

    on the five-year average.

    Public sector-related organisations have

    underpinned activity with NHS North

    West taking 51,971 sq ft, representing

    the largest City Centre office letting in

    the year to date. This will be

    overshadowed by Manchester City

    Council taking 140,000 sq ft, which is

    due to complete imminently.

    The unprecedented level of

    development in recent years has

    resulted in approximately three years

    supply being readily available.

    However, new development activity is

    severely restrained with no grade Aoffice buildings under construction

    due to complete from 2010 onwards.

    Rents for high-quality refurbished

    buildings have fallen from the peak of

    28.00 per sq ft as landlords competed

    to attract occupiers, with an average

    decline of approximately 20 percent.

    For more information, please contact:

    Mark Bamber, Associate Director

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7077

    Email: [email protected]

    Manchester City Centre

    Lambert Smith Hampton Research | 6

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    Executive summary

    Demand

    Supply

    Activity to Q3 2009 is approximately

    460,000 sq ft. Total annual take-up is

    expected to reach 700,000 sq ft, down

    almost 30 percent on the five-year average

    of 990,000 sq ft, and nearly 25 percent on

    the 10-year average of 920,000 sq ft.

    Occupier demand has been dominated by

    the public sector with NHS North West taking

    51,971 sq ft at 3 Piccadilly Place, representing

    the largest letting in the City Centre in the

    year to date. Other notable public sector-

    related lettings include 24,665 sq ft to the

    National Institute of Clinical Excellence and

    22,457 sq ft to The College of Law. This

    will be boosted further by the City Councils

    140,000 sq ft letting at First Street.

    Grade A take-up has accounted for

    approximately 33 percent of total lettings

    in the year to date, roughly in line with

    previous years, although the deal to

    Manchester City Council will see this

    figure rise to almost 50 percent.

    Take-up of good-quality, refurbished space

    (grade B+) has doubled from the five-year

    average of 15 percent to 30 percent, at the

    expense of poorer quality second-hand

    space. This is as a consequence of a fall in

    headline rents and an increase in incentives,

    resulting in better quality space becoming

    more affordable.

    2008 saw a record 900,000 sq ft of grade

    A accommodation released to the market.

    Although this has fallen back in 2009,

    a further 700,000 sq ft will have been

    completed by the end of the year. This

    includes: First Street (180,000 sq ft);

    Peninsular (148,000 sq ft); 1 New York

    Street (110,000 sq ft) and Vantage Point

    (53,000 sq ft).

    With the unprecedented level of development

    within the City Centre over the past two

    years, there is approximately 950,000 sq ft

    of grade A accommodation available in the

    market which, based upon historic take-uplevels, represents approximately three years

    supply.

    A significant amount of space has been

    released back into the market due to

    corporate relocations and downsizing. This

    includes 45,000 sq ft by Halliwells, 30,000

    sq ft by Cobbetts, 32,000 sq ft by Gardiner

    Media Group and 24,000 sq ft by HBOS.

    Manchester City Centre office markettake-up

    000 sq ft

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    New development activity is severely

    restrained and, with West Properties

    62,000 sq ft Origin and Property Alliances

    73,000 sq ft Axis schemes both on hold,

    there are currently no grade A office

    buildings under construction due tocomplete from 2010 onwards.

    A number of schemes are in the pipeline,

    including: Eider House, Piccadilly Basin

    (87,500 sq ft); The Landmark, Oxford Road

    (175,000 sq ft) and Elizabeth House, St

    Peters Square (400,000 sq ft). With a

    significant pre-let or upturn in the market,

    construction could commence at a rapid

    pace, quickly resulting in an influx of grade

    A accommodation and satisfying any

    currently unidentified demand.

    A number of significant sites in the City

    Centre are available for future development,

    including Greengate Embankment, Victoria

    Station, Granada, BBCs Oxford Road

    campus and the former Boddingtons

    Brewery, which should prevent a shortageof available grade A space in the long-term.

    Manchester City Centre

    www.lsh.co.uk

    New development

    Market rental values and yields

    Forecast

    Grade A headline rents have remained

    relatively stable over the past 12 months

    despite a weakened occupational demand.

    Rents for high-quality refurbished buildings

    have fallen from the peak of 28.00 per sq

    ft, with an average decline of approximately

    20 percent.

    Incentive packages have increased over the

    past year as landlords competed to attractoccupiers. However, convincing occupiers to

    relocate still remains the biggest challenge

    as they generally wish to retain flexibility

    and are unwilling to outlay the large

    associated costs.

    The investment market experienced the

    most significant increase in activity since the

    end of 2007, rising by 44 percent to 5.8

    billion for the third quarter 2009. Yields on

    UK offices, excluding central London, fell by

    68 basis points to 7.38 percent. This figure

    was reinforced by the recent sale of No 1

    Balloon Street to a private family trust for

    21 million, reflecting a net initial yield of

    6.5 percent.

    With a lack of grade A stock being

    developed, the level of supply will fall over

    the next 12-24 months and net effective

    rents will rise as incentives harden.

    However, some buildings will continue to

    struggle in attracting occupiers and we

    anticipate these landlords will increase

    incentive packages and reduce quoting

    rentals, resulting in a two-tier market.

    Pressure will remain on refurbished

    accommodation as more buildings are

    released to the market when occupiers

    move to new accommodation.

    The prime office areas will continue to

    expand as Piccadilly and Spinningfields

    will be joined by other traditionally fringe

    locations such as Victoria Station.

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    Manchester City Centre office marketgrade A supply pipeline

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    Manchester City Centre office marketnet initial yields

    % Yield

    24.5

    25.0

    25.5

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    26.5

    27.0

    27.5

    28.0

    28.5

    29.0

    2011(forecast)

    2010(forecast)

    20092008200720062005

    Manchester City Centre office marketgrade A rental values forecast

    per sq ft

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    Occupational demand has significantly

    decreased in 2009 with total take-up

    likely to reach a 12-year low, in the

    region of 400,000 sq ft. This is

    approximately 35 percent down on

    2008 owing to a shortage of largeleasehold transactions in excess of

    20,000 sq ft.

    Up until Q3 2009 there were 115

    transactions in comparison with 131

    for the corresponding period in 2008.

    The average transaction size has

    significantly reduced from 4,000 sq ft

    in 2008 to 2,500 sq ft in 2009.

    Freehold activity is relatively low in

    comparison with recent years but still

    accounted for 20 percent of the total

    take-up in comparison with 12 percent

    in 2008. This is mainly due to the

    overall fall in take-up.

    The oversupply of business park office

    stock, built in the early part of the

    decade, has still not been adequately

    absorbed. There is no significant

    speculative office development

    imminent within the region.

    Grade A rents have reduced in most

    of the business parks but have

    remained stable for the more affluent

    town centre locations. The letting of

    Lakeside 5,000 to Nike at 18.50 sq ft

    signified the highest rent within the

    region. In view of the oversupply,

    market rents have decreased by as

    much as 25 percent for some buildings.

    As with other regions the investment

    market has suffered from low levels

    of activity. The notable transaction for

    2009 has been the sale of Lakeside

    5,000 at Cheadle Royal which achieved

    a yield of 7.5 percent.

    For more information, please contact:

    David Thwaites, Associate Director

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 8008

    Email: [email protected]

    South Manchester

    Lambert Smith Hampton Research | 8

    Executive summary

    Demand

    Supply

    Take-up in 2009 has been adversely affected

    by the shortage of large transactions, with

    only four deals taking place above 10,000

    sq ft. The 37,456 sq ft letting to Nike of

    Lakeside 5,000 at Cheadle Royal has been

    by far the largest transaction of the year.

    With several lettings imminent at ICO1,

    Didsbury Point, take-up is likely to approach

    400,000 sq ft by the year end. This is

    significantly lower than the five and 10-year

    averages of 640,000 sq ft and 634,000 sq ft

    respectively.

    Demand remains strongest in the sub 5,000

    sq ft sector which accounts for over 85

    percent of all transactions. Landlords are

    becoming increasingly pragmatic in

    sub-dividing accommodation to meet this

    demand and offering flexible terms.

    There are a number of large requirements

    currently in the market from the likes of

    John Lewis, Edmundson Electrical and Nike

    Golf. Should a sizeable proportion of these

    transactions be satisfied take-up for 2010

    should increase from the 2009 level.

    The majority of activity has been centredaround the regions business parks, which

    has accounted for four of the largest

    leasehold transactions, with Cheadle Royal

    Business Park featuring prominently.

    Approximately one-quarter (22.5 percent)

    of all available office stock within the region

    is grade A space, the majority of which is

    situated within a business park environment.

    Total availability at Q3 2009 stood at

    approximately 1.8 million sq ft, which is

    slightly less than the 1.85 million sq ft for

    the corresponding period in 2008.

    The lack of large-scale grade A development

    in the past 18 months has led to a reduction

    in the grade A supply from 30.36 percent in

    2008 to 22.5 percent in 2009.

    Poor take-up in 2009, coupled with an

    increasing number of occupiers downsizing

    operations, has led to an increase in the

    availability of refurbished stock from 1.2

    million sq ft in 2008 to 1.4 million sq ft

    in 2009.

    The total office availability represents

    approximately 4.5 years supply based

    on the take-up forecast for 2009. This is

    reduced to 2.8 years when compared with

    the five-year average take-up figure.

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    Leasehold Freehold

    South Manchester office markettake-up

    000 sq ft

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    Total Grade A Grade B+ Grade B/C

    South Manchester office marketavailability

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    South Manchester

    www.lsh.co.uk

    New development

    Market rental values and yields

    Forecast

    Significant development activity, which has

    been completed in 2009 has been limited

    to No 1 Kings Close, Wilmslow (10,000 sq ft)

    and BAMs St Peters Square development in

    Stockport (52,000 sq ft).

    In view of the continued oversupply within

    the region and lack of significant corporate

    activity, there is no speculative development

    imminent in 2010 and beyond. Most of the

    recent new supply coming to the market

    has resulted from refurbishments rather

    than new build schemes.

    The 180,000 sq ft Micromass requirement,

    which is due to be satisfied before 2012, is

    the regions largest corporate requirement

    that can only be accommodated by new

    build development. A decision on the

    preferred location is likely to be made

    by Q1 2010.

    Prime headline rents have remained in the

    region of 18.50 per sq ft for a number of

    years due to the slow absorption rate of the

    regions business park offices. Higher rents

    have been achieved in affluent towns such

    as Wilmslow and Altrincham; however,

    these are invariably small transactions on

    flexible lease terms.

    The letting to Nike achieved the prime

    headline rent of 18.50 per sq ft; however,

    a number of buildings that have stood

    empty for some time have significantly

    reduced quoting rents in order to

    achieve lettings.

    Tenant incentive packages have increased

    over the past nine months as landlords have

    been increasingly keen to avoid the running

    costs involved with vacant buildings, in

    particular empty property rates. This has

    had the effect of significantly reducing

    net effective rents.

    There has been a limited amount of

    investment activity throughout the region.

    The recent sale of Lakeside 5,000 achieved

    a yield of 7.5 percent and generated much

    interest. There are encouraging signs that

    investors are returning to the market, which

    may signal a yield shift in 2010.

    The downward pressure on prime headline

    rents is expected to continue for the majority

    of 2010. However, with an improving

    economy and reduction in supply we

    should see signs of rental growth in 2011.

    With the letting of Lakeside 5,000 and the

    likely absorption of a number of other

    office buildings in the next few months,

    net effective rents for business park stock

    should begin to increase by the end of 2010.

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    South Manchester office marketspeculative construction

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    South Manchester office marketnet initial yields

    % Yield

    12.5

    13.5

    14.5

    15.5

    16.5

    17.5

    18.5

    19.5

    20.5

    2011(forecast)

    2010(forecast)

    20092008200720062005

    South Manchester office marketprime rental values forecast

    per sq ft

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    Take-up to the end of Q3 2009

    amounted to just 21,616 sq ft. It is

    anticipated that the total for the year

    will be the lowest recorded for 10

    years. The average transaction size

    equated to just over 2,000 sq ft withno freehold activity.

    The Salford Quays market remains

    oversupplied, with accommodation

    available for immediate occupation

    standing at 431,743 sq ft, representing

    just under three years supply based on

    the five-year average take-up figure.

    As economic conditions improve

    and occupier demand returns, it is

    anticipated that the oversupply will

    be reduced over a relatively short

    period of time as no significant

    speculative development is planned.

    The development of Peels MediaCityUK

    continues with Phase One equating

    to 36 acres out of a possible 200 acres.

    However, the ultimate success of

    MediaCityUK will take a number

    of years to be achieved.

    For more information, please contact:

    Adam Jackson, Senior Surveyor

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7065

    Email: [email protected]

    Salford Quays

    Lambert Smith Hampton Research | 10

    Executive summary

    Demand

    Supply

    Take-up to Q3 2009 amounted to 21,616

    sq ft, which was completed in nine separate

    transactions. With the deal to Balfour

    Beatty imminent, take-up is likely to reach

    39,000 sq ft by the year end, well below

    the five and 10-year averages of 160,327

    sq ft and 143,661 sq ft respectively.

    All of the transactions were sub 6,000 sq ft,

    with the average deal equating to 2,065 sq ft.

    Of these deals, 70 percent occurred in the

    grade B+ sector reflecting the dominant

    supply of this grade of space in the Quays.

    A further 17,115 sq ft is under offer at

    The Lighthouse, where Balfour Beatty is

    in negotiations to take the whole of the

    second floor on a new lease from Standard

    Life. A further 13,000 sq ft is under offer

    at the Soap Works; the former Colgate

    Palmolive site being developed by Abstract

    NIKAL and Carlyle. If these deals complete

    in the final quarter of 2009, take-up could

    near the level seen in 1999 of just over

    58,000 sq ft.

    It should be noted that over 100,000 sq ft

    has been transacted at Peels MediaCityUK

    by way of an agreement to lease by

    University of Salford. The University will

    take occupation of the accommodation in

    the autumn of 2011 and the space will be

    used predominantly for educational

    purposes with an element of office use.

    Significant oversupply exists within the

    market with the Q3 f igure equating to

    431,743 sq ft or just under three years

    supply based on the five-year average take-

    up figure. At 72,557 sq ft, BAMs Metro

    development makes up 16 percent of this

    total supply. This property remains empty

    in its entirety despite completing in 2007.

    Orbit Developments Broadway Quays

    provides 21,411 sq ft of grade A office

    accommodation. A further 39,641 sq ft

    can be delivered with relative ease as the

    substructure of Curzon House has been

    completed.

    A further 35,457 sq ft has been developed

    at Digital Park in seven two-storey self-

    contained buildings. Originally developed

    by Peel and completed in December 2008,

    the units have failed to secure occupiers on

    either a leasehold or freehold basis due to

    weak occupier demand.

    The construction of Peels MediaCityUK

    continues with the development of 36 acres

    forming Phase One of the scheme which

    will deliver 700,000 sq ft of office

    accommodation across five buildings. In

    2006 300,000 sq ft was pre-let to the BBC

    and Building C, the first of three buildingsto be developed for the BBC, was handed

    over in October 2009. Buildings A and B

    will be handed over in early 2010.

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    Salford Quays ofice market take-up

    000 sq ft

    Grade A Grade B+ Grade B/C

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    No. 1 Kings Close, Wilmslow

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / Public display of affection

    Lambert Smith Hampton / 13

    Public display of affection3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester

    The public sector, once disparaged by many in the commercial property

    industry, is driving activity through the very heart of the UKs economy,

    creating valuable jobs and generating long-term stability.

    Despite being renowned as the largest business

    and financial services centre outside of

    London, Greater Manchester has witnessed an

    increasing diversification of its occupier profile.

    A wide range of public sector occupiers have

    helped maintain momentum during 2009 by

    accounting for a significant proportion of the

    total office take-up across Greater Manchester.

    The most notable transactions being the pre-

    sale of 240,000 sq ft at Central Park to the

    Greater Manchester Police Force, Manchester

    City Councils short-term letting of 140,000

    sq ft at First Street and NHS North Wests

    acquisition of 52,000 sq ft at Piccadilly Place.

    Add to this reports that the Equality and Human

    Rights Commission is expected to acquire

    40,000 sq ft at Piccadilly Place, together

    with a live requirement for 20,000 sq ft fromthe Learning Skills Council, and it is clear that

    the public sector has become a vital force in

    the market.

    With its profusion of high-quality office

    accommodation and excellent rail links to

    London, Piccadilly is fast emerging as the

    public sectors location of choice, housing

    major organisations such as GMPTE, HM

    Revenue and Customs, Government Office

    for the North West, Highways Agency and,

    more recently, NHS North West.

    Plans to create a Whitehall of the North on

    the site of the nearby Mayfield Street Station

    could deliver a further 5,000 public sector

    jobs. With many recent deals incorporating

    five-year break options, occupiers will be able

    to relocate to the new complex when it is

    completed in 2015. Therefore the site has the

    potential to become the biggest super-campus

    of civil servants in the UK.

    While this is an enormous opportunity for

    Greater Manchester, the notion of a singlehub for all government-led relocations

    inextricably affects the rest of the market.

    Certain developers have questioned its

    wisdom, as they will now have to assume that

    no other space will be let or sold to the public

    sector. This may limit future development

    across the city.

    One saving grace is that not all public sector

    bodies need or even want to site themselves

    in a central hub. Meanwhile, certain occupiers,

    who wish to be associated with government,

    will undoubtedly opt for premises within close

    proximity of the new facilities.

    While 2009 has brought about an acceleration

    of government-led relocations, developers

    must remain vigilant against reliance on the

    public sector given that public finances have

    been severely strained by the need to support

    the ailing financial sector. Added to which, the

    widely anticipated cuts in public expenditure

    following the general election in 2010 may

    result in a reduction in future demand.

    Mark Bamber, Office Agency

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7077

    Email: [email protected]

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / The emergence of a new business district

    Reports of the emergence of a

    new business district may be

    fanciful but, if north Manchesters

    recent surge in high-quality

    development is anything to go

    by, perhaps the notion isnt so

    remote after all.

    Greater Manchesters office market has

    traditionally been dominated by three distinct

    regions; Manchester City Centre, South

    Manchester and Salford Quays. However,

    development activity has become much more

    dispersed in recent years, giving rise to

    reinvigorated suburban office markets and

    heralding a new outlook for the northern

    crescent towns of Bolton, Bury, Oldham

    and Rochdale.

    Major developments such as Kings Point in

    Oldham, Middlebrook Business Park and 120

    Bark Street in Bolton have been completed,

    while others such as Central Park in east

    Manchester are still underway. The

    fundamental result is a much-needed injection

    of grade A office space, which has helped

    the region to land several large corporate

    requirements from the likes of Fujitsu, EON,

    AXA and, more recently, Greater Manchester

    Police Force.

    Ask:Goodmans 1.4 million sq ft Central Park

    has been an early success, having played host

    to the UKs largest office transaction of 2009.

    Recognising the benefits of the scheme with

    its high-quality specification and superb

    The emergence of anew business district

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    Greater Manchester Office Market/ Issue One / The emergence of a new business district

    Lambert Smith Hampton / 15

    transport links, including its own Metrolink

    station, Greater Manchester Police Force is

    scheduled to relocate more than 1,000 staff

    from its existing offices at Chester House, Old

    Trafford, to the 240,000 sq ft building when it

    completes in 2011.

    Then there is Middlebrook, one of the largest

    integrated and sustainable mixed-use

    developments in the country. The decision by

    the developer, Orbit, to speculatively build

    a further 50,000 sq ft office building at its

    Parklands scheme clearly demonstrates

    confidence in a product that is all too rare

    in the current economic climate.

    Another important stimulus is the investment

    in the regions transport infrastructure. With

    the completion of the M60 orbital motorway

    in 2000 and the planned extension of the

    Metrolink to Oldham and Rochdale in early

    Greater Manchester Police Force HQ, Central Park

    2011, Greater Manchesters northernmost

    towns will become more accessible than

    ever before.

    North Manchester may not be able to

    compete on reputation alone. However,with its promise of flexible, value for money

    accommodation and improving transport

    connections, it has the ability to appeal to

    a number of footloose businesses as well as

    those establishing operations in the region.

    As occupational costs continue to form an

    important driver of activity, it will be

    interesting to see how the area performs

    over the coming months in comparison to

    its more established sister locations.

    Mark Bamber, Office Agency

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7077

    Email: [email protected]

    Anotherimportant

    stimulus is theinvestment in theregions transportinfrastructure.

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    Head of Office

    Peter Skelton

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7005Email: [email protected]

    City Centre

    Mark Bamber

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7077Email: [email protected]

    South Manchester

    David Thwaites

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 8008Email: [email protected]

    Salford Quays

    Adam Jackson

    Tel: +44 (0)161 242 7065Email: [email protected]

    Greater Manchester Office Agency contacts

    www.lsh.co.uk

    Details of other Lambert Smith Hampton research material can be viewed on our website at http://www.lsh.co.uk

    Due to space constraints within the report, it has not been possible to include both imperial and metric measurements.

    Lambert Smith Hampton December 2009. Regulated by RICS

    This document is for general informative purposes only. The information in it is believed to be correct, but no express or implied representation or warrantyis made by Lambert Smith Hampton as to its accuracy or completeness, and the opinions in it constitute our judgement as of this date but are subject tochange. Reliance should not be placed upon the information, forecasts and opinions set out herein for the purpose of any particular transaction, and noresponsibility or liability, whether in negligence or otherwise, is accepted by Lambert Smith Hampton or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agentsor representatives for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage which may result from any such reliance or other use thereof.

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any material form by any means, electronic, recording, mechanical,photocopying or otherwise, or stored in any information storage or retrieval system of any nature, without the prior written permission of the copyrightholder, except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

    Warning: the doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

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